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  • Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headline a Hall of Fame class missing Bill Belichick

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    Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlined the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class featuring five players but not six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick.Brees and Fitzgerald both made it in their first year of eligibility in results announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night after prolific careers. Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made it in their second seasons of eligibility, while Roger Craig was the lone pick among seniors, coaches and contributors.Video above: Drew Brees ready to take over the Bay Area on NFL Honors nightBut the class is also noteworthy for Belichick’s absence as at least 11 of the 50 voters opted against giving him a vote despite a career with 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs and the most Super Bowl titles of any head coach. A report last week that Belichick fell short in his first year of eligibility was met with widespread criticism of both the voters and the process for choosing Hall of Famers.The man who hired Belichick in New England to set the stage for the Patriots dynasty also fell short, with owner Robert Kraft failing to get enough votes.This is the second straight year with a smaller class after only four people made it last year as new rule changes have made it harder to get into the Hall. There had been at least seven people inducted in the previous 12 classes before last year.That contributed to the snub for Belichick and Kraft, who were grouped with Craig and two other players — Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood — who have been retired for at least 25 seasons. The voters picked three of the five candidates with the highest vote-getter and anyone else above 80% getting the honor.Craig, who was in his 28th year of eligibility, was the only one of those five to make it. Craig was the first player ever to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, which happened in 1985, and he led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988 when he helped San Francisco win the Super Bowl.Craig also was part of the title-winning teams for the 49ers in the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 yards from scrimmage in those Super Bowl wins are the third-most ever behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.Video below: Boston wants fans to celebrate Super Bowl responsiblyVinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making the game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories during New England’s dynasty with Belichick and Kraft in charge. He joined Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only players in the Hall who were primarily kickers in their careers. Vinatieri helped launch the run with one of the game’s greatest kicks — a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round. He made the game-winning kick in OT to win that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20-17 win in the Super Bowl against the Rams.Vinatieri is the NFL’s career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.Brees is second all time to Tom Brady with 80,358 yards passing and 571 touchdown passes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers before signing as a free agent with the Saints in 2006, where his career took off as he helped lift a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.Brees delivered to New Orleans its first Super Bowl title following the 2009 season, when he won MVP of the game after beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Brees made the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career, won AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, was an All-Pro in 2006 and was a second-team All-Pro four times.Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third overall in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 yards receiving in 17 seasons rank second all time to Jerry Rice.Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards receiving nine times — tied for the fourth-most ever — and helped the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl following the 2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season records that postseason with 546 yards receiving and seven TD catches, including a go-ahead 64-yard score with 2:37 to play in the Super Bowl before Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-23 win over Arizona.Kuechly’s career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by Carolina in 2012 was an All-Pro five times, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).Voters reduced the list of 15 finalists in the modern era category to 10 and then seven before voting for five to make it. The top three vote-getters and anyone else above 80% got into the Hall.Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshal Yanda, and edge rusher Terrell Suggs made it to the final seven in the modern-era category and will automatically be finalists again next year.

    SAN FRANCISCO —

    Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald headlined the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class featuring five players but not six-time Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Belichick.

    Brees and Fitzgerald both made it in their first year of eligibility in results announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night after prolific careers. Luke Kuechly and Adam Vinatieri made it in their second seasons of eligibility, while Roger Craig was the lone pick among seniors, coaches and contributors.

    Video above: Drew Brees ready to take over the Bay Area on NFL Honors night

    But the class is also noteworthy for Belichick’s absence as at least 11 of the 50 voters opted against giving him a vote despite a career with 333 wins in the regular season and playoffs and the most Super Bowl titles of any head coach. A report last week that Belichick fell short in his first year of eligibility was met with widespread criticism of both the voters and the process for choosing Hall of Famers.

    The man who hired Belichick in New England to set the stage for the Patriots dynasty also fell short, with owner Robert Kraft failing to get enough votes.

    This is the second straight year with a smaller class after only four people made it last year as new rule changes have made it harder to get into the Hall. There had been at least seven people inducted in the previous 12 classes before last year.

    That contributed to the snub for Belichick and Kraft, who were grouped with Craig and two other players — Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood — who have been retired for at least 25 seasons. The voters picked three of the five candidates with the highest vote-getter and anyone else above 80% getting the honor.

    Craig, who was in his 28th year of eligibility, was the only one of those five to make it. Craig was the first player ever to have 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season, which happened in 1985, and he led the NFL with 2,036 yards from scrimmage in 1988 when he helped San Francisco win the Super Bowl.

    Craig also was part of the title-winning teams for the 49ers in the 1984 and 1989 seasons. His 410 yards from scrimmage in those Super Bowl wins are the third-most ever behind Hall of Famers Jerry Rice and Franco Harris.

    Video below: Boston wants fans to celebrate Super Bowl responsibly

    Vinatieri was one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, making the game-winning field goals in the first two Super Bowl victories during New England’s dynasty with Belichick and Kraft in charge. He joined Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen as the only players in the Hall who were primarily kickers in their careers.

    Vinatieri helped launch the run with one of the game’s greatest kicks — a 45-yarder in the snow to force overtime in the “Tuck Rule” game against the Raiders in the 2001 divisional round. He made the game-winning kick in OT to win that game and then hit a 48-yarder on the final play of a 20-17 win in the Super Bowl against the Rams.

    Vinatieri is the NFL’s career leader in points (2,673) and made field goals (599) over a 24-year career with New England and Indianapolis. He also leads all players with 56 field goals and 238 points in the postseason.

    Brees is second all time to Tom Brady with 80,358 yards passing and 571 touchdown passes. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Diego Chargers before signing as a free agent with the Saints in 2006, where his career took off as he helped lift a city still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

    Brees delivered to New Orleans its first Super Bowl title following the 2009 season, when he won MVP of the game after beating Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Brees made the Pro Bowl 13 times in his career, won AP Offensive Player of the Year in 2008 and 2011, was an All-Pro in 2006 and was a second-team All-Pro four times.

    Fitzgerald spent his entire career with the Arizona Cardinals after being drafted third overall in 2004. His 1,432 catches and 17,492 yards receiving in 17 seasons rank second all time to Jerry Rice.

    Fitzgerald topped 1,000 yards receiving nine times — tied for the fourth-most ever — and helped the Cardinals reach their only Super Bowl following the 2008 season. Fitzgerald set single-season records that postseason with 546 yards receiving and seven TD catches, including a go-ahead 64-yard score with 2:37 to play in the Super Bowl before Pittsburgh rallied for a 27-23 win over Arizona.

    Kuechly’s career was brief but impactful. The first-round pick by Carolina in 2012 was an All-Pro five times, with seven Pro Bowl nods and a Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Over his eight-year career, Kuechly led all linebackers in the NFL in tackles (1,090), takeaways (26), interceptions (18) and passes defensed (66).

    Voters reduced the list of 15 finalists in the modern era category to 10 and then seven before voting for five to make it. The top three vote-getters and anyone else above 80% got into the Hall.

    Offensive linemen Willie Anderson and Marshal Yanda, and edge rusher Terrell Suggs made it to the final seven in the modern-era category and will automatically be finalists again next year.

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  • Worst to first: Vrabel, Maye prove it isn’t a dream

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    This has always felt like a free season. At some point, the shoe would probably drop, the kid quarterback would eventually fall on his face, midnight would strike, and New Englanders could get on with their lives.

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    Bill Burt

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  • Ted Johnson coming to Eagle-Tribune: Ex-Patriots star will be doing a Q&A with Bill Burt

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    Who was three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson’s favorite Patriots head coach – Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll or Bill Belichick?

    When it comes to the three Super Bowl teams he was part of, which one does Johnson believes deserves a bigger piece of the credit pie – Belichick or Tom Brady?

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    By Bill Burt | bburt@eagletribune.com

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  • Come hear Ted Johnson speak: Ex-Patriots star will be doing a Q&A with Bill Burt

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    CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP Photo

    Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, No. 52, shown here in his final season in 2004, will be coming to The Eagle-Tribune on Tues., Jan. 6 to do an Q&A with executive sports editor Bill Burt. All subscribers to North of Boston Media Group newspapers are eligible to attend with one guest.




    Who was three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson’s favorite Patriots head coach – Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll or Bill Belichick?

    When it comes to the three Super Bowl teams he was part of, which one does Johnson believes deserves a bigger piece of the credit pie – Belichick or Tom Brady?







    Johnson

    Ted Johnson



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    Burt mug 122312-1

    Bill Burt




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    Bill Burt

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  • Ex-Patriot Ted Johnson to speak to readers: Ex-Patriots star will be doing Q&A with Bill Burt

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    CHARLIE RIEDEL/AP Photo

    Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson, No. 52, shown here in his final season in 2004, will be coming to The Eagle-Tribune on Tues., Jan. 6 to do an Q&A with executive sports editor Bill Burt. All subscribers to North of Boston Media Group newspapers are eligible to attend with one guest.




    Who was three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson’s favorite Patriots head coach – Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll or Bill Belichick?

    When it comes to the three Super Bowl teams he was part of, which one does Johnson believes deserves a bigger piece of the credit pie – Belichick or Tom Brady?







    Johnson

    Ted Johnson



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    Burt mug 122312-1

    Bill Burt




    kAm%96 6G6?E 😀 @A6? E@ 2== DF3D4C:36CD E@ @FC }@CE9 @7 q@DE@? |65:2 vC@FA ?6HDA2A6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 t28=6%C:3F?6[ $2=6> }6HD[ v=@F46DE6C %:>6D 2?5 }6H3FCJA@CE s2:=J }6HD]k^Am

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    Bill Burt

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  • Ted Johnson will speak to readers on Tuesday: Ex-Patriots star will be doing a Q&A with Bill Burt

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    Who was three-time Super Bowl champion Ted Johnson’s favorite Patriots head coach – Bill Parcells, Pete Carroll or Bill Belichick?

    When it comes to the three Super Bowl teams he was part of, which one does Johnson believes deserves a bigger piece of the credit pie – Belichick or Tom Brady?

    This page requires Javascript.

    Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

    kAm~C 9@H 23@FE 2 4FCC6?E BF6DE:@?i pC6 E96 a_ad }6H t?8=2?5 !2EC:@ED 7@C C62=[ 2D 😕 ECF6 $FA6C q@H= 4@?E6?56CDnk^Am

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    kAmy@9?D@? 😀 2=D@ 2 >6>36C @7 E96 7C2?49:D6’D p==`hh_D E62> 2D 2 >:55=6 =:?6324<6C]k^Am

    kAm%96 6G6?E 😀 @A6? E@ 2== DF3D4C:36CD E@ @FC }@CE9 @7 q@DE@? |65:2 vC@FA ?6HDA2A6CD[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 t28=6%C:3F?6[ $2=6> }6HD[ v=@F46DE6C %:>6D 2?5 }6H3FCJA@CE s2:=J }6HD]k^Am

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    kAmr2== hfghceaa__ E@ C6D6CG6 J@FC D62ED]k^Am

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    By Bill Burt | bburt@eagletribune.com

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  • UNC quarterback Bryce Baker to enter transfer portal, per reports

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    North Carolina quarterback Bryce Baker throws during UNC football’s Practice Like a Pro open practice at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, April 12, 2025.

    North Carolina quarterback Bryce Baker throws during UNC football’s Practice Like a Pro open practice at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, April 12, 2025.


    Ethan Hyman

    ehyman@newsobserver.com

    Chapel Hill

    North Carolina true freshman quarterback Bryce Baker plans to enter the NCAA transfer portal, which opens Jan. 2, according to On3 and 247Sports. On3 was first to report the news.

    Baker, a 4-star prospect from East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, was the first high school recruit to commit to UNC under head coach Bill Belichick. After Belichick was hired last December, he made it a priority to re-recruit Baker, who had originally committed to the Tar Heels under former coach Mack Brown in 2023. Baker had waited to finalize his decision after Brown’s firing, but ultimately signing with Belichick in December 2024. Shortly thereafter, Belichick famously introduced Baker at halftime of a UNC men’s basketball game against La Salle to a roaring home crowd.

    North Carolina football recruit Bryce Baker shakes hands with recently hired football coach Bill Belichick as they are introduced during halftime of the Tar Heels’ men’s basketball game against La Salle on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina football recruit Bryce Baker shakes hands with recently hired football coach Bill Belichick as they are introduced during halftime of the Tar Heels’ men’s basketball game against La Salle on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, at the Smith Center in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com

    Despite the fanfare, Baker didn’t see any game action in 2025. He fell to fourth on the quarterback depth chart behind Gio Lopez, Max Johnson and fellow true freshman Au’Tori Newkirk.

    Baker’s departure leaves UNC with two returning quarterbacks, Lopez and Newkirk, whose intentions for the upcoming season have not been announced. Johnson plans to enter the transfer portal and appeal for an extra year of eligibility.

    The news of Baker’s exit on Monday comes several hours after news broke of the reported hiring of Bobby Petrino as UNC’s new offensive coordinator.

    Baker was a consensus top-five player in the state of North Carolina coming out of high school. His decision to enter the portal marks a swift departure from a program he joined amid high-profile fanfare.

    For a tracker of UNC’s transfer moves, click here.

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  • What’s next for Bill Belichick and North Carolina football in 2026

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    CHAPEL HILL — The second year of the Bill Belichick era at the University of North Carolina carries with it even more questions than the first did.

    The biggest one: Will it include more victories?

    Belichick, who turns 74 in April, will almost assuredly be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the time UNC kicks off its 2026 season against TCU in Dublin, Ireland, on Aug. 29. 

    Belichick, whose six Super Bowl titles and nine conference championships are the most among NFL coaches, is a finalist for the hall, whose 2026 class will be announced Feb. 5 and enshrined on Aug. 8.

    “You could see the brilliance of him at a young age and today, as we’ve gotten grayer and older and fatter, he’s still the same coach,” UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi, a longtime Belichick confidant, said at a press conference this month. “And that’s what makes me so excited about what the future here at North Carolina is.”

    Belichick’s first collegiate season ended with five losses by at least 16 points — more than the four games the team won during the season. The Tar Heels’ offense was anemic and the team committed penalties at an alarming rate in the final weeks of the season, a stunning twist given Belichick’s reputation as a stickler for details.

    “In our first year, we learned a lot about the university,” Lombardi said. “We learned a lot about the ACC. We learned a lot about college football. We learned a lot about what matters in terms of how to recruit.”

    WRAL’s latest documentary, “Coaching Carolina: The Belichick Way,” explored Belichick’s first year at UNC — from the messy hiring process through the summer of hype and into a season of turmoil and losses.

    After the season-ending loss to rival NC State, Belichick said: “You can see we’ve got a lot of work to do.”

    Other questions to be answered in the second year:

    Will Belichick be back?

    Since the day he was hired, Belichick has faced questions about returning to the NFL. And it really hasn’t ever gone away.

    With 333 NFL victories (regular season and postseason), Belichick is just 15 wins away from passing Don Shula as the NFL’s all-time leader. He spent his entire career in the NFL before coming to Chapel Hill.

    “I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said during his first press conference at UNC when asked about the NFL luring him back.

    During the season, Belichick denied reports that he might be looking for an exit strategy. Last month, Belichick issued a statement stating that he hasn’t pursued NFL head-coaching vacancies and that he wouldn’t pursue pro vacancies and reaffirming his commitment to UNC. It came after he denied interest in the New York Giants’ open coaching position.

    The NFL coaching carousel doesn’t really start spinning in earnest until after the regular season ends in early January. It’s possible that Belichick’s name will be floated again in connection to potential openings around the league, which always seems to have more openings than qualified candidates.

    There aren’t many six-time Super Bowl champions floating around, even ones coming off a bad college football season and who bring a tabloid-friendly personal life.

    Former NFL quarterback and current analyst Boomer Esiason called Belichick “the greatest football coach who’s ever walked the NFL sideline.” 

    “I can’t say that about college just yet,” Esiason told WRAL in an interview, “but I will say in the NFL, I saw him do things that very few coaches were able to accomplish, both in building a team, running a team, managing a game, which is really an underappreciated part of what he was able to do when he was the head coach of the Patriots. 

    “So he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer as far as I’m concerned, and I think most people that are part of the NFL recognize the greatness that still resides there.”

    Belichick, who signed a five-year $50-million contract with three first three years guaranteed, would have to pay a $1 million buyout to UNC if he were to take an NFL job.

    Can Belichick fix the offense?

    The Tar Heels ranked last in the 17-team ACC in total offense and first downs and finished 16th in points per game and passing offense. UNC scored more than 20 points just once against teams from major conferences.

    Belichick fired offensive coordinator Freddie Kitchens after the season. Kitchens, who was head coach of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns in 2019, was in the first year of a two-year contract. He coached tight ends and was the running game coordinator at UNC under former coach Mack Brown in 2023 and 2024.

    Belichick also dismissed special teams coach Mike Preifer. Will there be more changes to come for a staff that includes two of Belichick’s sons (defensive coordinator Steve and defensive backs coach Brian) as well as Lombardi’s son (quarterbacks coach Matt)?

    Who Belichick picks to lead the offense is among his most critical decisions in the offseason. It goes hand in hand with the most pressing on-field personnel decision: Who is the quarterback?

    Who will start at QB?

    Tar Heels starter Gio Lopez was last among qualified quarterbacks in the ACC in yards per game this season. Lopez transferred to UNC after spring practice, was involved in a car accident that wasn’t his fault days before the season opener, and left at least three games with injuries in addition to missing the entire Clemson game. It was a dreadful season all around for Lopez, who reportedly signed a two-year contract worth $4 million to play for the Tar Heels.

    Lopez is expected to return next season. Will the Tar Heels bring in an experienced quarterback to compete with Lopez or take his spot on the depth chart?

    Quarterback is the highest-profile position, but it highlighted some of the deficiencies in roster construction that plagued UNC in 2025.

    Can Belichick build a championship roster?

    Belichick and Lombardi, the highest-paid general manager in the sport, said the timing of their hire — in mid-December after high school recruiting was largely done and after the winter transfer portal had opened — put them in a tough spot for acquiring talented players for the 2025 season. 

    “We signed players who didn’t have offers or offers that they didn’t want [or] kind of slid through the cracks in terms of the recruiting process,” Belichick said in October. “We signed players in the transfer portal that were available. We were late in the running on a lot of them. We were late on relationships. We were late on it in contracts. We ran out of time. We did the best we could.”

    Talent evaluation and acquisition were expected to strengths for a duo deeply experienced with evaluating and valuing players in a salary cap league.

    “Belichick and Lombardi came in and kind of sold it on their expertise in evaluation,” said Stewart Mandel, college football editor at The Athletic. “Like, they did such a great job evaluating players in the NFL, they’re going to come in and build a great roster at UNC. And as you would start to talk to more and more people, they either completely missed on their evaluations or they were too confident or overconfident in the fact that they thought kids would just line up to play for Bill Belichick because of who he is. They overpaid for some players; they didn’t pay enough for some other players.”

    Lombardi said the Tar Heels’ front office didn’t have time to implement a system last offseason.

    “We were just trying to catch up,” he said.In the months since, they have built a grading and scouting system, including training students for two months to create profile tapes for their system.

    “To get the system in place, it’s more than just turning the light switch on,” Lombardi said. “And unfortunately when we first got here – I’m not making any excuses — we didn’t have time to turn the light switch on. We had to just get into the dark room.”

    Will 2026 bring a foundational class?

    The Tar Heels are leaning heavily into that evaluation in signing a large class of 39 players this month. The class was highly ranked, in part, due to its quantity.

    “They will be a foundation for our program,” Belichick said.

    UNC didn’t have 39 open spots on its 105-man roster from players that were out of eligibility, a sign that the program expected heavy losses in the transfer portal. More than a dozen players who were on the roster at the end of the season have announced plans to transfer, including leading tackler Khmori House, third-down running back Davion Gause and breakout defensive end Tyler Thompson.

    The Tar Heels often pointed to the 70 new players as part of the reason they struggled to build a cohesive unit. But next year’s roster could include a similar wave of newcomers. The transfer portal officially opens Jan. 2 and closes Jan. 16. There is no second portal window this year as there has been in past years.

    “The best thing about this year is that on Jan. 17, the portal will close and you’ll be able to build your team knowing that when you go to spring ball, that is your team,” Lombardi said. “Knowing that when you go through your offseason program, that is your team. 

    “A lot of the players that played for us this year didn’t get here until the summertime and so their progress wasn’t really at the highest level until midseason. The strength of Coach Belichick’s program is in player development and that player development is hard when you practiced all spring with a team that wasn’t involved in the fall.”

    Will anyone be excited for another year?

    Outside of wide receiver Jordan Shipp and defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude, it’s hard to point to a returning player that will move the needle for casual UNC football fans.

    Those fans were a big part of the appeal in hiring Belichick. UNC was looking to make a big splash and find someone who could elevate the profile of the football and fill Kenan Stadium — and help pay for Belichick’s $10 million annual salary.

    His December 2024 hiring no doubt brought with it tremendous excitement for the Tar Heels’ program from fans, broadcasters and sponsors. The Tar Heels sold out all tickets for home games, garnered primetime TV spots for early games and saw a financial boost from donations and sponsorships — all wins from the university perspective.

    “Though we didn’t achieve the results that we had hoped for on the field, the excitement around the program has been remarkable,” UNC’s athletics department said in a statement.

    But home attendance dropped off sharply as UNC struggled, even if all the seats were purchased. The Tar Heels’ final four games were on The CW or ACC Network, a sign of decreased interest from ACC television partner ESPN and one that will have a direct financial impact because the league shares some revenue based on overall television viewers.

    UNC has an attractive and difficult home schedule with 2026 games against Notre Dame, NC State, Miami, Louisville, Syracuse and East Tennessee State. Coming off a 4-8 season, will the interest remain at its pre-2025 season level?

    Chancellor Lee Roberts, who played a pivotal role in Belichick’s hiring, preached patience throughout the 2025 season.

    “We don’t judge these things by the results on the field midway through the season or even after one season,” Roberts said. “So the change that Coach Belichick has brought to our program, the investment across the board that we’ve made, we think promises bright things for the future. And you see it in the level of attention and interest that’s being paid to Tar Heel football.”

    Belichick, too, has faith, a faith reinforced by those NFL victories and success.

    “The process will eventually produce the results that we want to produce, like they have everywhere else I’ve been,” Belichick said in October at a low point in the season. “I’m very confident in that.”

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  • Bill Belichick’s Carolina Train Wreck

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    In November, the fact that Carolina beat Stanford was overshadowed by a nugget, in the Post, that a beef between Hudson and one of Belichick’s daughters-in-law, Jen, had reached a point where Jen had screamed at Jordon in Bill’s office, calling her “batshit crazy” and accusing her of “fucking twisting” Bill’s brain. Shortly thereafter, Belichick was seen attending an adult-cheerleading event where Hudson, wearing a high pony and a red scrunchie, was competing. A photo of him sitting in the audience, looking miserable, went viral.

    WRAL was now reporting that nearly twenty per cent of U.N.C’s players had been ticketed for reckless driving or speeding, and that a “significant” number of them were Belichick’s recruits. One, Thad Dixon, a star transfer who had played under Belichick’s son Steve at the University of Washington, was cited for doing ninety-three in a fifty zone. At a presser, Belichick wearily said, “We’ve addressed it.”

    Generations of reporters have learned that it is nearly impossible to extract personal insight from Belichick. His memoir, “The Art of Winning,” which was published in May, reads like somebody made him write a term paper about leadership. The monotony of his curmudgeonly gray flame and supposed aversion to distraction is part of why Belichick scholars went on alert when he uncharacteristically surfaced on social media, with Hudson, playing mermaid angler and yoga daddy. What, I wondered, would Belichick’s best-known biographer, the late David Halberstam, have made of all this?

    Halberstam edited the Harvard Crimson and distinguished himself young, at the Times, by winning the 1964 Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting for coverage of the Vietnam War. He went on to publish nearly two dozen books on politics, civil rights, and professional sports—Bill Walton and the Portland Trail Blazers; the Yankees–Red Sox rivalry. In 2005, the Patriots were in the midst of a historic run, having won three of the last four Super Bowls. A friend of Belichick called Halberstam to suggest him as a new book subject.

    Both Halberstam and Belichick owned property on Nantucket, but had never met. Halberstam invited Belichick and his then-wife, Debby, whom Belichick had known since high school, over to dinner. As it turned out, Belichick wasn’t sold on the idea of a book, though he did admire Halberstam’s work, especially “The Best and the Brightest,” about Vietnam. According to Halberstam, Belichick agreed only after the project was framed in terms of lineage and learning.

    Much of what we know about Belichick appeared first in that book, “The Education of a Coach.” Belichick’s paternal grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from what is now Croatia. His mother, Jeannette, was a languages scholar of English descent; she learned Croatian to communicate with the relatives of her husband, Steve. The family worked in “the coal mines of western Pennsylvania, the steel mills of eastern Ohio,” Halberstam once told PBS. Steve “got out and made it because he was a very good, albeit relatively small, high school running back, and that got him to Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, and a coach picked up on him and understood that he was rough, crusty, but smart as could be, hardworking, and that everything you asked him to do, he would do, and more. And the values of that home—of nothing to be wasted, of maximizing your talents—he passed on to his son in a much more affluent America.”

    Bill was born in 1952, in Nashville, where his father briefly worked as an assistant football coach at Vanderbilt University, and he grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, where Steve spent thirty-three years scouting for the Navy’s team, a job that he was able to hold for so long, in a profession marked by turnover, because the Naval Academy gave him tenure as a P.E. instructor. Father took son to work; the future Hall of Famer quarterback Roger Staubach tossed the kid passes. Belichick was a small child when he began absorbing the art of breaking down game film. He played football and lacrosse at Annapolis High School, where he met Debby, who captained the cheerleaders. After graduating, he spent a year at Phillips Academy, in Andover, Massachusetts, to improve his grades and his college prospects. Playing center on the football team, he met Ernie Adams, a brainy senior from Brookline, Massachusetts, who played guard and was a fan of “Football Scouting Methods,” a book, published in 1962, that Steve had dictated to Jeannette with a level of density and detail that only other football obsessives could love.

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  • Duke’s Manny Diaz the latest ACC coach to teach Bill Belichick a lesson

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    Chapel Hill

    From the moment he was hired, the other ACC coaches have been waiting for their moment to match wits with Bill Belichick. Thinking. Planning. Scheming. Lining up to outsmart the master. Most of them have.

    Manny Diaz was the latest Saturday night. He beat Belichick at his own game, appropriated one of his own gimmicks and used it against him — and then caught North Carolina on a game-changing fake field goal that Belichick and the Tar Heels never saw coming and left them for dead.

    Belichick has been waiting 72 years to “beat Duke,” according to his purported first words, and he’ll have to wait a little longer after yet another ACC coach got the best of him in Duke’s 32-25 win. Eight rings, but he may never ring the Victory Bell. Belichick had to walk back to the North Carolina locker room past the Duke players ringing it over and over on the UNC logo at midfield.

    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick embraces Duke coach Manny Diaz following the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick embraces Duke coach Manny Diaz following the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    It was a slower walk than Duke kicker Todd Pelino’s 26-yard sprint to just short of the goal line with 2:20 to go and Duke down one after holder Kade Reynoldson flipped him the ball, but just as memorable in its own way. The Tar Heels had fought their way back into the lead only to get suckered so badly like that. It was no coincidence: Diaz told Pelino and Reynoldson before the game to be ready to run that fake, one the Blue Devils have been working on for weeks and ran flawlessly in practice on Tuesday.

    Duke’s Todd Pelino runs the ball after faking a field goal attempt during the second half of the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory over North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    Duke’s Todd Pelino runs the ball after faking a field goal attempt during the second half of the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory over North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

    Plans like that have been in the works across the ACC, marinating, fermenting, stewing. Diaz and his staff went to one of them early, scoring Duke’s second touchdown by using the four-lineman formation Belichick used in a playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 and was quickly declared illegal by the NFL. Tight end Jeremiah Hasley lined up as an eligible left tackle and was left uncovered by the caught-unaware Tar Heels for an easy 14-yard touchdown catch.

    “They must have assumed I was a tackle,” Hasley said. “I wouldn’t take that as a compliment. I was able to hide when we huddled up. They just never picked me up as a receiving threat.”

    Duke’s Jeremiah Hasley runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the Blue Devils’ game against North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    Duke’s Jeremiah Hasley runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the Blue Devils’ game against North Carolina on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown The News & Observer

    This is what happens when you come roaring into a job letting everyone know that you invented the sport and give competent college coaches 10 months to stew over it. From the moment Belichick came in the door, his ACC peers have been scheming against him, just to prove a point.

    Dabo Swinney ran a trick play for a touchdown on the first play of the game, a leave-no-doubt Clemson thumping. Jake Dickert, who has made a lot more progress in Year 1 at Wake Forest than Belichick at UNC, ran up the score after Belichick called a pointless late time out. Diaz threw one of Belichick’s own gimmicks back at him — and then made sure to point out who should actually get the credit for it.

    “I don’t know that’s his invention,” Diaz scoffed. “That play’s been around in college ball for a long, long time.”

    Given that level of communal disdain among Diaz and his peers, dear God, what’s Dave Doeren been cooking up this whole time? In the wake of Friday night’s win over Florida State, the N.C. State coach was openly giddy at the prospect of welcoming “baby blue” to Raleigh next Saturday, already trying to pump up a crowd that had barely had time to get home from Carter-Finley.

    Then again, North Carolina does enough self-inflicted damage, sometimes all the effort to shove Belichick’s arrogance back in his face is almost overkill. The Tar Heels are undisciplined enough to make Chuck Amato blush, taking 12 penalties including three unsportsmanlike-conduct fouls in the fourth quarter alone. (Duke had three penalties. Total. All night.)

    That Hasley touchdown that threw Belichick’s own gambit back in his face? Duke only had the chance because serial offender Marcus Allen turned a missed Duke field goal into a first down by roughing the kicker.

    “There was defensive penalties and there was offensive penalties,” Belichick said. “We had them both. We had too many penalties on everything.”

    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick shakes hands with Duke coach Manny Diaz following the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick shakes hands with Duke coach Manny Diaz following the Blue Devils’ 32-25 victory on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    That’s not even North Carolina’s biggest problem. The Tar Heels arrived at these two rivalry games with the potential to salvage at least something from this season, and Kenan Stadium had none of the buzz that accompanied the opener against TCU, all those months ago when there was still hope this operation could work, when it was only partly a laughingstock.

    North Carolina went and paid Belichick billions to give its football program some juice, and it’s a completely juiceless operation. The offense is plain. The defense too often has what are known to football experts as Traditional UNC Tackling issues. The penalties are infuriating. The crowd is barely engaged.

    What’s changed, other than the finances? Other than missing a bowl game for the first time in seven seasons, barring an unlikely win over State and some APR shenanigans?

    Belichick talked a lot about beating Duke, as a toddler and as a head coach. But there’s always an argument to be made, especially in football, that beating State is as important, if not more.

    “I’m not, like, real smart but I’ve learned that pretty quickly,” Belichick said. “I understand the rivalry.”

    The Tar Heels at least showed some fight in this one, rallying in the second half to demand everything Duke had. But North Carolina faces the very real possibility of going 0-for-NC if it can’t pull an upset at Carter-Finley. And if Duke was this ready for this, just imagine what N.C. State has planned.

    Never miss a Luke DeCock column. Sign up at www.newsobserver.com/newsletters to have them delivered directly to your email inbox as soon as they post.

    This story was originally published November 22, 2025 at 8:34 PM.

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    Luke DeCock

    The News & Observer

    Sports columnist Luke DeCock joined The News & Observer in 2000 and has covered nine Final Fours, the Summer Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win in 2006. He is a past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country’s top sports columnist and is a three-time North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year.

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  • Duke uses late fake field goal to stun North Carolina, Bill Belichick :: WRALSportsFan.com

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    By Brian Murphy, WRAL News

    Duke Blue Devils 32
    North Carolina Tar HeelsNorth Carolina Tar Heels 25
    Final

    CHAPEL HILL — Duke pulled off a stunning fake field goal and scored the game-winning touchdown on the next play as the Blue Devils pulled off a memorable 32-25 victory over host North Carolina on Saturday at Kenan Stadium.

    Kicker Todd Pelino took a pitch from the holder and ran 26 yards down the left sideline to the UNC 1 late in the fourth quarter. Duke running back Anderson Castle had his third 1-yard touchdown run of the game on the next play to give Duke the lead in a back-and-forth battle for possession of the Victory Bell.

    Duke improved to 6-5 and earned bowl eligibility for the fourth consecutive season. UNC, under first-year coach Bill Belichick, is 4-7 and will not reach six regular-season wins for the first time since 2018, Larry Fedora’s last season as coach.

    It was the fourth straight nailbiter between the rivals, the first two won by UNC and the last two by Duke.

    The North Carolina offense, which ranked among the worst in the ACC and the nation entering the game, came to life against the Blue Devils. UNC took a 25-24 lead early in the fourth quarter after a 12-yard touchdown run by Davion Gause.

    Duke led 24-10 early in the second half after a touchdown run by Castle. UNC opened the second half with an unsuccessful surprise onside kick attempt.

    Down by two touchdowns, UNC responded with a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Gio Lopez to wide receiver Jordan Shipp. The pair connected on a two-point conversion as well.

    Entering the game, UNC ranked next to last or last in the 17-team ACC in passing offense, total offense, scoring offense, third-down offense and red zone offense.

    UNC was much better Saturday against the Blue Devils’ defense.

    But Duke was a bit better, aided by converting 5-of-6 fourth-down tries, including the fake field goal. A successful 44-yard kick would have given Duke the lead and few expected the daring call. UNC’s Marcus Allen crashed hard in an attempt to block the field. It left Pelino plenty of space to run.

    Two key penalties hurt the Tar Heels in the first half.

    With the score tied at 7, Allen was called for roughing the kicker when Pelino missed a 46-yard attempt. Duke had picked up a personal foul penalty on the play before, pushing the Blue Devils into a longer attempt.

    On the first play after the UNC penalty, Duke quarterback Darian Mensah connected with Jeremiah Hasley for a 14-yard touchdown.

    The Blue Devils added a field goal on its next possession to extend the lead, but the Tar Heels got a field goal of their own in the final seconds of the half. An ineligible receiver down field penalty stopped the Tar Heels from a first-and-goal situation on the drive.

    Things started well for UNC.

    Lopez completed all six of his passes as the Tar Heels marched for an opening-drive touchdown. Lopez also rushed for six yards, including a one-yard touchdown, on the opening drive. Lopez had 65 yards passing on the drive. It was the third time UNC has scored a touchdown on its first drive this season.

    Duke answered with a long touchdown drive of its own on their first drive, capped by a 1-yard run by Castle. Duke, who entered the game with the best passing offense in the ACC behind Mensah, converted on two fourth-down tries on its opening drive, including a 27-yard gain on fourth-and-2 from the UNC 46.

    Duke defeated UNC 21-20 last season, rallying from a 20-0 second-half deficit.

    Scoring summary

    First quarter

    UNC — Gio Lopez 1 run (Rece Verhoff kick), 7:57. Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 7:03. Key play: Lopez completed a pass down the left sideline to receiver Jordan Shipp for 22 yards on third-and-1 at the UNC 41. UNC 7, Duke 0.

    DUKE — Anderson Castle 1 run (Todd Pelino kick), 2:59. Drive: 10 plays, 53 yards, 4:51. Key play: Duke converted on two fourth-down tries on the drive, including a 27-yard pass on fourth-and-2 at the UNC 46. UNC 7, Duke 7.

    Second quarter

    DUKE – Jeremiah Hasley 14 pass from Darian Mensah (Pelino kick), 10:25. Drive: 13 plays, 78 yards, 6:11. Key play: North Carolina’s Marcus Allen was flagged for roughing the passer after Pelino missed a field goal, giving Duke a first down at the UNC 14. Duke 14, North Carolina 7.

    DUKE – Pelino 33 kick, 2:33. Drive: 14 plays, 71 yards, 6:51. Key plays: Duke converted on three third-down attempts on the drive, including an 8-yard gain on third-and-3 from its own 35. Duke 17, UNC 7.

    UNC — Verhoff 47 field goal, :07. Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 2:26. Key play: An ineligible receiver down field penalty cost the Tar Heels a 21-yard pickup on third-and-2 from the Duke 26. Instead, the Tar Heels were pushed back and kicked a field goal. Duke 17, UNC 10.

    Third quarter

    DUKE — Castle 1 run (Pelino kick), 9:15. Drive: 11 plays, 44 yards, 5:45. Key play: Darian Mensah rushed for 13 yards on fourth-and-7 from the UNC 41 to keep the drive alive. Duke 24, UNC 10.

    UNC — Jordan Shipp 20 pass from Gio Lopez (Shipp pass from Lopez), 4:52. Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 4:23. Key play: The Tar Heels converted on two third-down tries. UNC entered the game as the ACC’s worst offense on third down. Duke 24, UNC 18.

    Fourth quarter

    UNC — Davion Gause 12 run (Verhoff kick), 13:13. Drive: 9 plays, 91 yards, 4:30. Key play: The Tar Heels picked up chunks of yards on the drive: 16, 13, 15, 11, 11, 11 and 12. Lopez hit Shipp for 11 yards on third-and-8 at the Duke 45. North Carolina 25, Duke 24.

    DUKE — Castle 1 run (Nate Shephard pass from Mensah), 2:18. Drive: 11 plays, 68 yards, 4:19. Key play: Kicker Todd Pelino rushed for 26 yards on a fake field goal. Duke 32, North Carolina 25.


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  • Bill Belichick’s daughter-in-law unleashes profanity-filled rant at Jordon Hudson after Tar Heels game: report

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    Bill Belichick’s daughter-in-law reportedly lashed out at the legendary coach’s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, in a “nearly hour-long profanity-laced tirade” after a game, adding to the whirlwind of controversy in his first year as UNC Tar Heels head football coach. 

    The New York Post first reported the outburst by Jen Belichick, the wife of the coaching legend’s son, Steve Belichick, who serves as UNC’s defensive coordinator.

    The incident allegedly occurred Nov. 8 inside the elder Belichick’s office, where Jen Belichick didn’t hold back her opinions on Hudson — from fashion choices to her relationship with her father-in-law to her body — while the 73-year-old coach was in the room.

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    Jordon Hudson stands on the sideline as the North Carolina Tar Heels take on the California Golden Bears in the fourth quarter at California Memorial Stadium Oct. 17, 2025.  (Eakin Howard/Imagn Images)

    The Tar Heels are not enjoying the best season. The team is 4-6 in Belichick’s inaugural college heading into a matchup with Duke at home Saturday. But the rant from Jen Belichick came after a win over Stanford. The feeling of victory seemed to be short-lived because Jen Belichick was “furious with Hudson” regarding an interaction they had earlier in the day.

    Jen Belichick proceeded to call Hudson “bats— crazy,” while adding that all she “does is control s—.” It reportedly got to the point where Jen Belichick allegedly said Hudson was “f—ing twisting” her father-in-law’s brain and even pleaded for him to “wake up.”

    Jen Belichick allegedly told the room, which included more than just her husband, father-in-law and Hudson, that she didn’t care if her tirade resulted in her husband’s firing or her father-in-law disowning her.

    BILL BELICHICK RELEASES STATEMENT INSISTING HE WON’T BE PURSUING NFL COACHING JOBS

    “He wants to fire you, fire you. He wants to f—ing disown me, disown me. I don’t f—ing care,” Jen Belichick allegedly told her husband in front of the group.

    Another part of the rant included Jen Belichick berating Hudson about her fashion choices, visible at Tar Heels games as she watches from the sideline. Jen Belichick specifically took a shot at Hudson’s snakeskin prints she’s worn to games, while commenting on her body as well.

    “You also need to eat a burger,” Jen Belichick allegedly told Hudson.

    The Post reported that Jen Belichick’s tirade lasted about 40 minutes.

    Jordon Hudson fixes her hair

    Jordon Hudson attends a game between the Virginia Cavaliers and the North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium Oct. 25, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Lance King/Getty Images)

    This isn’t the first time Jen Belichick has said something about Hudson, and it dates back to the infamous “CBS Sunday Mornings” interview, when the 24-year-old interrupted  awkwardly after Bill Belichick received a question about how the couple met.

    At the time, a pair of Bill Belichick’s former New England Patriots players, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, were commenting on it during their “Dudes on Dudes” podcast. They alleged that Hudson was “working with Coach Belichick in the professional world” as his publicist.

    Comedian Nikki Glaser, who was part of the Tom Brady roast on Netflix that featured Edelman and Gronkowski, supported what the former NFL stars said in an Instagram comment. She wrote, “100% this. She’s acting as his publicist. Publicists do this during interviews. People are out for blood.”

    Jen Belichick jumped in to the comment section to reply to Glaser.

    “Publicists act in a professional manner and don’t ‘storm’ off set delaying an interview,” she wrote.

    Fox News Digital did not immediately get a response for comment from UNC Athletics about whether this argument took place after the game Nov. 8.

    It’s been a roller-coaster ride for Bill Belichick since entering the college football world with a struggling on-the-field product and off-the-field distractions.

    Bill Belichick looks on while Jordon Hudson stares at him

    North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson during the first half of a game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center March 8, 2025, in Chapel Hill, N.C. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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    However, with NFL head coaching vacancies already open following mid-season terminations, Belichick reassured everyone at Chapel Hill he plans on staying put.

    “Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not [wavered],” Belichick said in a statement after the New York Giants fired Brian Daboll, leading to talks about him becoming their next leader. 

    “We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.”

    Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

    Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.

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  • If ‘Beat Duke’ were really Bill Belichick’s first words, time to make them count

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    It’s the game Little Billy was born to coach, if you believe bigger Bill. Bill Belichick’s claim that “Billy’s first words were ‘Beat Duke’” at his introductory press conference was more engagement with what the job he took actually entails than he’s shown since.

    If you believe it, that is. Very little about the Belichick hagiography has proven accurate in his time at North Carolina, although Saturday’s Duke game — and next week’s Lamish Duck Bowl against N.C. State — does give him one last chance to get out an old hoodie and polish what’s left of this dismal debut season at least a little bit.

    The one moment Belichick dug into the truly collegiate part of the job, the local rivalry stuff that runs as hot here as it does anywhere, even in years like this when everyone has long ago moved along to basketball, was probably the most optimistic moment of that entire event. Maybe he did get it, after all? Of course, then he would have known that State’s the real football rival, not that Duke hasn’t done its part in recent years.

    Subsequent events have proven he didn’t know much after all, from the badly botched roster assembly to the Georgia-style rash of traffic violations to all the stuff in his personal life that has made Belichick and his girlfriend tabloid superstars for 11 months. The Belichick hire certainly put the UNC football program on the front page, but no one realized it was going to be the front page of US Weekly, a fine McClatchy Media journalism product.

    These final two games are a chance to put the focus back on football, at the last possible moment. Duke is spiraling, having gone from potential CFP disruptor to battling for bowl eligibility, needing a win over either UNC or Wake Forest. N.C. State may also need a win to become bowl eligible at what could very well be the end of the Dave Doeren era in Raleigh, and if Doeren is done, there would be no better way to go out.

    And still, there may be more on the line for North Carolina than either. Two wins gets the Tar Heels into a bowl. Two wins sends them into the offseason with momentum they have struggled to build under Belichick. Two wins go a long way toward silencing the mocking laughter that has wafted on the wind toward Chapel Hill from other corners of the Triangle from the moment North Carolina started writing Belichick great big novelty checks.

    Even after getting embarrassed by Wake Forest, the latest low in a memorably mediocre season of mediocre Triangle football — 5-5, 5-5, 4-6 — North Carolina still has a chance to come out on top after a season full of shenanigans, as hard as it is to believe that Doeren could lose a game he’s been thinking about winning for 11 months.

    Oddly enough, even with some of Belichick’s strange in-game decisions, coaching overall probably hasn’t been the issue. The defense has improved, and by the historic standards of UNC, anything approaching “vaguely competent” is a veritable miracle. The persistence in sticking with Gio Lopez at quarterback over Max Johnson feels like a business decision, not a football one, but the Tar Heels have been able to run the ball effectively at times. That’s all progress.

    It’s everything else that’s gone haywire. Last week, Belichick notified the world that he was not interested in the New York Giants opening in a statement released by North Carolina. Good to know. Thanks. But the fact that he inserted himself into that conversation when the NFL is clearly not going to be his escape route just shows how fractured his worldview is, just as pulling the plug on the documentary he commissioned did.

    The hastily announced pivot to focusing on freshman once things started to go sour suggests there’s still no real plan, no real foundation, just a bunch of guys who thought they could come in and do Real Football stuff and outsmart everyone. The reality of college football in 2025 is obviously far different. Maybe he should have prepared that 400-page binder after all. It has been a rude awakening, but there’s also no easy way out for Belichick or North Carolina.

    There’s no soft landing in the NFL. If there was ever going to be an agreement on a mutually acceptable buyout, it would have happened in October when both sides were looking for parachutes. If North Carolina’s ever going to get a chance to hire the reset button, it’s going to be costly. But maybe that’s the price to pay for going down this silly road in the first place. Even two wins in the Triangle wouldn’t change the fact that North Carolina’s millions bought it nothing.

    Never miss a Luke DeCock column. Sign up at www.newsobserver.com/newsletters to have them delivered directly to your email inbox as soon as they post.

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    Luke DeCock

    The News & Observer

    Sports columnist Luke DeCock joined The News & Observer in 2000 and has covered nine Final Fours, the Summer Olympics, the Super Bowl and the Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup win in 2006. He is a past president of the U.S. Basketball Writers Association, was the 2020 winner of the National Headliner Award as the country’s top sports columnist and is a three-time North Carolina Sportswriter of the Year.

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  • Will Bill Belichick leave UNC football to coach the NFL’s Giants? What he said

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    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick talks with recruits prior to the Tar Heels’ game against Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick talks with recruits prior to the Tar Heels’ game against Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.


    Robert Willett

    rwillett@newsobserver.com

    Chapel Hill

    In the final weeks of his first regular season as North Carolina’s head football coach, Bill Belichick said Friday night his focus remains solely with the Tar Heels.

    With his name swirling around the New York Giants’ head coaching opening, Belichick said in a statement that he has no intention of leaving UNC for any NFL job.

    “Despite circulating rumors,” Belichick said in a statement, “I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”

    The 73-year-old Belichick has a deep history with the Giants, having coached as defensive coordinator on two Giants Super Bowl-winning teams under head coach Bill Parcells following the 1986 and 1990 seasons.

    “I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families,” Belichick said in his statement. “The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade.”

    Belichick had never coached at the college level prior to this season. After struggling in the season’s first month, UNC (4-5, 2-3 ACC) is on a two-game winning streak entering Saturday’s game at Wake Forest.

    The school’s veteran coach indicated Friday night he plans to continue coaching the Tar Heels following this season.

    “Since arriving in Chapel Hill,” Belichick said, “my commitment to the UNC football program has not wavered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.

    “We’re on to Wake Forest.”

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  • Here’s what we learned from Belichick’s second ACC win as UNC topples Stanford

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    chapel hill

    Heading into halftime, it looked like this game was turning into one of those quintessential ACC football moments — the sort of tragicomedy that might go on the conference’s theoretical Mount Rushmore alongside Frank Beamer celebrating, with both arms raised, a scoreless end of regulation.

    It wasn’t until the third quarter that the Kenan Stadium crowd (“gathering” might be the more apt descriptor) was rewarded with a touchdown: a connection between Gio Lopez to Davion Gause. The Tar Heels did just enough — and little more — to fend off Stanford 20-15 on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.

    “There’s a lot of games like that in this conference. That’s what we’re ready for,” UNC coach Bill Belichick said. “Fortunately we made enough plays come out on top today, and so it’s a good feeling. Just a lot of things we can still improve on, keep working on.”

    That win gives UNC its second ACC victory as it enters the final and most crucial stretch of its season: the in-state slate against Wake Forest, Duke and N.C. State.

    Here’s what we learned about the Tar Heels on Saturday:

    This defensive line is a game changer

    At least this much was going right for UNC: The Tar Heels recorded a season-high nine sacks.

    Defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude — the ACC’s sack leader — recorded three sacks. Linebacker Tyler Thompson added three as well — a career high.

    “He’s worked really hard on his pass rush,” Belichick said of Abou-Jaoude. “He’s gotten a lot stronger… he’s explosive, he’s strong and his fundamentals and techniques — rushing the passer — have been something he’s refined and worked on.”

    And Washington transfer Khmori House was simply on a different level, leading North Carolina with 13 total tackles, eight of those by himself.

    He also earned an interception late in the third quarter when Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown threw the ball directly into House’s gloves. The linebacker made the interception and returned it to the Stanford 20-yard line. UNC linebacker Andrew Simpson, who finished with six tackles and two sacks, backed the Tar Heels up to the 35-yard line thanks to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, but the damage was done.

    North Carolina linebacker Andrew Simpson (2) forces a fumble by Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown (2) in the first quarter on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina linebacker Andrew Simpson (2) forces a fumble by Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown (2) in the first quarter on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    North Carolina kicker Rece Verhoff opened the fourth quarter with a 48-yard field goal to put the Tar Heels up by 10.

    The defensive line has been a highlight for this team, particularly since the Cal game. After the Tar Heels’ 21-18 loss in Berkeley, the North Carolina D-line felt it wasn’t doing enough to help the team’s defensive backs, per Abou-Jaoude.

    “We just made a big emphasis on ourselves,” Abou-Jaoude said on a recent episode of the Carolina Insider podcast. “We left them out to dry. Like, the quarterback had five seconds back there. We were like, ‘What are we doing?’”

    The Tar Heels have recorded 35 tackles for loss and 23 sacks over the last five weeks.

    UNC offense takes a step back in first half

    North Carolina appeared in prime position to score after a strip sack allowed Lopez and the offense to take over at Stanford’s 7-yard line.

    Even in such close range, North Carolina couldn’t find the end zone. In the shotgun, Lopez rushed up the middle and was pushed back by edge rusher Tevarua Tafiti. Loss of two. Lopez attempted a pass to tight end Jake Johnson in the end zone. Incomplete. On that play, as well as the next, Lopez faced a good deal of pressure from Tafiti, as well as Stanford defenders Matt Rose and Zach Rowell. The pressure forced him to throw another incomplete pass on third-and-9, bringing on Verhoff and forcing the Tar Heels to settle for a field goal in prime position.

    North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez (7) looks for running room against the Stanford defense before being stopped for a four yard loss in the fourth quarter on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez (7) looks for running room against the Stanford defense before being stopped for a four yard loss in the fourth quarter on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    North Carolina recorded 6 yards of total offense in the first quarter and 41 in the second. Lopez, who ranked 120th in the nation in passing yards entering Saturday, completed just eight of 28 first-half passes. The Tar Heels had twice as many sacks (six) as they did first downs (three) entering the locker room at the half.

    “[We] try to get off to a good start. We haven’t done that lately,” Belichick said. “And we need to find a way to do that offensively. We definitely need to find that. So we’ll keep working on it.”

    Some important context here: UNC’s offensive line is pretty banged up. Christo Kelly’s still out. Aidan Banfield joined him on Saturday’s injured list. And most crucially, center Chad Lindberg — who was injured in the Syracuse game — did not play either.

    North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez (7) passes to running back Davion Gause for a 20 yard touchdown completion in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead over Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina quarterback Gio Lopez (7) passes to running back Davion Gause for a 20 yard touchdown completion in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead over Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    Another receiving back emerges for UNC in Davion Gause

    Demon June showed off his dual-threat running back abilities last week at Syracuse, racking up 101 yards on the ground and 81 yards on two receptions against the Orange. June only had three carries against Stanford, but another playmaker was able to step in for the Tar Heels.

    This week, it was Davion Gause’s turn to put his versatility on display. Gause, also known as “Bullet,” led the Tar Heels in rushing with 28 yards on 11 attempts and added 51 yards on three catches.

    North Carolina running back Davion Gause (37) scores on a 20 yard pass reception from quarterback Gio Lopez (7) in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead over Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C.
    North Carolina running back Davion Gause (37) scores on a 20 yard pass reception from quarterback Gio Lopez (7) in the third quarter to take a 10-3 lead over Stanford on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. Robert Willett rwillett@newsobserver.com

    As the story goes, Gause’s nickname dates back to age 5. His running back coaches gave him the moniker based on his speed, which stuck out almost immediately in hitting drills — even at that age.

    Gause continued to put that athleticism on display through high school as a three-time state champion in football and a track athlete who competed in the 4×100. At some point during his track career, perhaps, Gause got in some hurdles practice. On the Tar Heels’ crucial first drive of the second half, Gause broke a tackle and then leaped over a defender on a third-and-long.

    “Every time he gets the ball, I’m expecting him to jump over somebody,” said sophomore wideout Jordan Shipp, who finished with five catches for 83 yards. “He’s been doing it since his freshman year. It just feels good to see him doing his thing.”

    That extra effort picked up 18 yards and moved UNC to the Stanford 44-yard line. It marked one of three times on that drive where the Tar Heels picked up a third-and-long conversion. Lopez found Gause for all three of those, including the 20-yard touchdown pass on a third-and-12 to open up the scoring, finally, for the Tar Heels.

    This story was originally published November 8, 2025 at 8:06 PM.

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  • UNC, Bill Belichick vying for second consecutive ACC win in Saturday’s game against Stanford :: WRALSportsFan.com

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    By WRAL Staff

    Stanford Cardinal 0
    North Carolina Tar HeelsNorth Carolina Tar Heels 3
    CW | 2nd – 02:00

    Chapel Hill, N.C. — The North Carolina defense had three sacks on Stanford’s first two possessions, including one that led to a fumble recovery deep in Stanford territory.

    UNC led Stanford 3-0 in the second quarter.

    The Tar Heels entered the game with 18 sacks on the season, including 10 in the last two games. The defensive line, in particular, has been a bright spot for the team in recent weeks. Linebacker Andrew Simpson had hit Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown, making his first start, and lineman Smith Vilbert recovered.

    UNC’s offense couldn’t move the ball, and the Tar Heels settled for a 27-yard field goal.

    The Tar Heels (3-5 overall, 1-3 in the ACC) is seeking its second consecutive win under head coach Bill Belichick. The game airs on The CW.

    On Tuesday, Belichick said he’s seen a consistent effort from the UNC players in recent weeks.

    “That’s really been the biggest thing … [as to] why our team has continued to improve because they work hard every week,” Belichick said. “They improve every week.

    “They literally improve every day, and when you stack those on top of each other consistently over a period of time, then you just perform better.”

    Stanford (3-6, 2-4 ACC) has lost two straight games, including a 35-20 loss to Pittsburgh on Nov. 1. Stanford coach Frank Reich, like Belichick a former NFL coach, switched quarterbacks this week.

    Saturday’s game is Military Appreciation Day and homecoming. Several events are planned to honor Tar Heel veterans. The pop group Fitz and The Tantrums performed afree pregame concert in Polk Place as part of the Chapel Thrill Concert Series.

    Scoring summary

    First quarter

    UNC – Rece Verhoff 27 field goal, 5:49. Drive: 4 plays, -2 yards, 0:56. Key play: Linebacker Andrew Simpson forced a fumble and sack and Smith Vilbert recovered at the Stanford 7 to set up the score. UNC 3, Stanford 0.

    When, where, how to watch:

    • When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8.
    • Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill
    • How to watch: The CW

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  • Bill Belichick wins first ACC game

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    Bill Belichick wins first ACC game as North Carolina rallies to defeat Syracuse

    When you took this job, that there would be so much attention that you would bolster the profile of Carolina football this much. Uh, you know, I wasn’t really focused on that, uh, Brian. It was more just to come in and you know try to work with Michael Lombardi and our staff and try to put together *** good team and *** good program and represent the school well on the football field, and that’s really what we’re trying to do. So glad people are excited, but really just focused more on the product and delivering. Has it surprised you at all that that so many people want to hear about Bill Belichick at Carolina, so much interest you guys are going to Ireland. Yeah. Well, that’s *** long way off. We got *** full season ahead of us before that, but yeah, that’ll be exciting. But no, the sport’s been amazing. The alumni, Carolina fans, and great response from the players, the people there that are on the football staff and on the team, how hard they worked and their commitment to doing the best they can and try to put *** good team together. Can I ask you what motivates you to stay in coaching? You’ve accomplished probably more than anybody who’s ever picked up *** whistle, and now you’re you’re kind of starting over in college. What what are you trying to prove? What do you have left to prove and maybe to who do you have anything to prove? Yeah, I just love coaching. I love all the aspects of it. I love the team building. I love. The fundamentals working with players, strategy, game competition, and just the whole process. Football has been good to me. It’s been good to my family. I grew up in *** football family, with my dad and around Navy football and *** lot of great players and coaches. Interacted with the NFL, so, um, it’s just, it’s fun to be *** part of *** team. You mentioned your dad’s connection to UNC when when you got the job. Was, was UNC like *** sort of *** specific school that you would have come to or Pitt or Maryland or Oklahoma State had called, would you have entertained, you know, more options than just North Carolina? UNC special because of the brand. It’s *** great academic school. It’s *** great athletic tradition and the fact that there were some roots there for me early in my life that was coming full circles was *** good feeling. What surprised you the most, good or bad, about being the head coach at North Carolina? Um, I’ve just enjoyed the process, really enjoyed the people, uh, sport’s been great. It’s *** great opportunity, and I just appreciate every day at Carolina. You’ve you’ve turned your roster over through the transfer portal, including after spring ball. How difficult, you know, you’re only going to have *** couple of weeks of fall practice. How difficult will it be to build *** cohesive team, *** winning team with just *** couple of weeks to kind of pull all the pieces together. Well, it’s not dissimilar to the model that we had in the NFL where after the draft and free agency signing and all that, you bring in about *** third of your team is brand new and so we’ll be somewhere in that range when we start fall camp, but we’ll have *** couple of months with them here in the summer and we’ve had *** good spring with *** lot of these guys as well, so. It is what it is. I mean all schools have *** similar situation, maybe not quite the same numbers, but some degree of freshmen coming in and transfer portals, some more than others, but we’ll take it as it comes and excited to have the players that we have and work with them. I know you like to talk about you don’t want to set expectations. You just want to get better every day, but what does success look like for you at North Carolina? Get better every day, coming in and having *** good day, having *** productive day, and then rest, recovery. And do another one tomorrow and keep stacking them on top of each other. That’s how he achieves success is consistency and the discipline to do it repeatedly over and over. That that’s what we’re going to try to do. We’ll let the process play out, but it’s important that we develop *** good solid routine. How important was it that you get to work with people like Michael Lombardi, your sons? You have *** lot of, I guess people call Belichick guys around you as you embark on this on this adventure. Well, we have *** few, Brian, but we also have, you know, well over 200 years of NFL experience on the roster and various capacities from our chef to our nutritionist, strength training. Scouting operations and so forth. So it’s really important that we provide the student athletes with *** great experience and everything they need to be successful, and then if they put in the work and we do *** good job developing, then hopefully they can achieve their individual goals and collectively we can achieve our team goals. So that’s what we’re about. Two quick ones. You have *** quarterback, it looks like in Geo Lopez. How are you going to handle that quarterback battle when it comes to the fall and who do you think might even be in that competition? Yeah, well, the competition is always in the hands of the players. I can’t control performance, so we’ll give everybody an opportunity to let the players compete, and we’ll see how it all turns out. We’re excited to have *** competition, not only *** quarterback, but really at most every position on the field, and again it will be up to the players to perform and earn those spots. Everything will be earned and we’re not handed anything out. It’ll be competitive. The guys will get what they earn and they’re all competed hard, they’re working hard and so look forward to seeing what that brings. You’ve certainly got *** lot of attention here in the last couple of months. What’s it like to be with football guys talking football? I know you have some old friends in there, Bill O’Brien, Frank Reich. What’s it been like to be at these meetings and, and really getting into the season? Oh yeah, it’s been great, you know, it’s been great to, to talk about some of the things, you know, the ACC college football, uh, things that, you know, all of us are involved in, you know, it’s *** certainly *** new model here for college football, NIL, Revshare and other things that are being discussed with the House settlement that are sort of in the air, but they’re sort of coming together. Uh, so just everybody’s trying to figure it out and, um, you know, get ready for the season. Uh, um, how much are you talking in those meetings? Obviously, you know, you’re *** respected voice when it comes to football, but you know there are people who’ve been coaching college football *** lot longer, so are you speaking up or are you, uh, you sitting back and kind of taking it all in? Oh, I’m listening to people like that, but we’ve had *** lot of success and I’ve been doing it *** long time. Great. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. OK, thank you. OK.

    Bill Belichick wins first ACC game as North Carolina rallies to defeat Syracuse

    Updated: 12:08 AM EDT Nov 1, 2025

    Editorial Standards ⓘ

    Demon June accounted for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards on offense, Gio Lopez threw for two scores, and Bill Belichick won his first Atlantic Coast Conference game when North Carolina came from behind to defeat Syracuse 27-10 Friday night.The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC), while the Orange (3-6, 1-5) lost for the fifth consecutive time. North Carolina lost its previous two games by a combined four points.Video above: Bill Belichick speaks on his transition to college football at UNC-Chapel HillThe Tar Heels had not scored more than 20 points against an FBS team and trailed 10-6 when Lopez hit June for a short gain of 9 yards on the team’s first play of the second half. June then broke a tackle and scampered 63 yards down the right sideline for a 72-yard scoring play to give the Tar Heels a 13-10 lead they would never surrender. On the team’s next series, June ran it in from 5 yards out for a 20-10 margin. A 21-yard scoring strike from Lopez to Jordan Shipp gave the Tar Heels a 27-10 lead and 21 unanswered points.Lopez was 15-of-19 passing for 216 yards and two touchdowns. June had 101 yards on the ground and 81 yards on two receptions. Shipp had six catches for 64 yards.Syracuse walk-on Joe Filardi, a true freshman, started at quarterback for the Orange. He was 1 of 11 in the first half and didn’t complete his first pass until 6:12 remained in the half. He finished 4 of 18 for 39 yards. Filardi replaced struggling LSU transfer Rickie Collins, who had gone 0-4 as a starter in relief of Steve Angeli. Angeli, who directed the Orange to a 3-1 start, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Clemson.Syracuse hasn’t won since.Video below: Bill Belichick’s girlfriend announces second run for Miss Maine USAThe only touchdown in the first half came courtesy of the Syracuse defense. Devin Grant knocked the ball loose from Shamar Easter on a short completion from Lopez. Linebacker Anwar Sparrow scooped up the ball and ran 51 yards for the score with 4:38 to go in the first quarter, giving the Orange a 7-3 lead.Rece Verhoff had field goals of 24 and 43 yards while Tripp Woody had a 31-yarder for the Orange.Syracuse managed 12 first downs, generated 147 yards on offense, and averaged only 2.9 yards per play.The Tar Heels are showing some fight. After two tough losses, North Carolina dominated Syracuse in the second half, albeit against a walk-on quarterback, and could be turning things around.

    SYRACUSE, N.Y. —

    Demon June accounted for two touchdowns and nearly 200 yards on offense, Gio Lopez threw for two scores, and Bill Belichick won his first Atlantic Coast Conference game when North Carolina came from behind to defeat Syracuse 27-10 Friday night.

    The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Tar Heels (3-5, 1-3 ACC), while the Orange (3-6, 1-5) lost for the fifth consecutive time. North Carolina lost its previous two games by a combined four points.

    Video above: Bill Belichick speaks on his transition to college football at UNC-Chapel Hill

    The Tar Heels had not scored more than 20 points against an FBS team and trailed 10-6 when Lopez hit June for a short gain of 9 yards on the team’s first play of the second half. June then broke a tackle and scampered 63 yards down the right sideline for a 72-yard scoring play to give the Tar Heels a 13-10 lead they would never surrender. On the team’s next series, June ran it in from 5 yards out for a 20-10 margin. A 21-yard scoring strike from Lopez to Jordan Shipp gave the Tar Heels a 27-10 lead and 21 unanswered points.

    Lopez was 15-of-19 passing for 216 yards and two touchdowns. June had 101 yards on the ground and 81 yards on two receptions. Shipp had six catches for 64 yards.

    Syracuse walk-on Joe Filardi, a true freshman, started at quarterback for the Orange. He was 1 of 11 in the first half and didn’t complete his first pass until 6:12 remained in the half. He finished 4 of 18 for 39 yards. Filardi replaced struggling LSU transfer Rickie Collins, who had gone 0-4 as a starter in relief of Steve Angeli. Angeli, who directed the Orange to a 3-1 start, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Clemson.

    Syracuse hasn’t won since.

    Video below: Bill Belichick’s girlfriend announces second run for Miss Maine USA

    The only touchdown in the first half came courtesy of the Syracuse defense. Devin Grant knocked the ball loose from Shamar Easter on a short completion from Lopez. Linebacker Anwar Sparrow scooped up the ball and ran 51 yards for the score with 4:38 to go in the first quarter, giving the Orange a 7-3 lead.

    Rece Verhoff had field goals of 24 and 43 yards while Tripp Woody had a 31-yarder for the Orange.

    Syracuse managed 12 first downs, generated 147 yards on offense, and averaged only 2.9 yards per play.

    The Tar Heels are showing some fight. After two tough losses, North Carolina dominated Syracuse in the second half, albeit against a walk-on quarterback, and could be turning things around.

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  • North Carolina drills Syracuse for Bill Belichick’s first ACC win :: WRALSportsFan.com

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    By Brian Murphy, WRAL News

    North Carolina Tar Heels 27
    Syracuse OrangeSyracuse Orange 10
    Final

    North Carolina coach Bill Belichick earned his first Atlantic Coast Conference victory and first win over a power-conference opponent Friday night behind a dominant second-half performance by his Tar Heels at Syracuse.

    Freshman running back Demon June had two third-quarter touchdowns for the Tar Heels, who snapped a four-game losing streak in a 27-10 victory over an overmatched Syracuse team that started a freshman walk-on at quarterback.

    The NFL coaching legend won six Super Bowl titles as head coach of the New England Patriots, but success eluded him early in the season. UNC (3-5 overall, 1-3 in the ACC) had been 0-5 against power-conference opponents in Belichick’s first season in Chapel Hill.

    “The guys just keep grinding,” Belichick said on ESPN after the win. “I thought our conditioning really helped us. We were able to take over in the fourth quarter. Kind of ran the ball when they knew we were going to run it.”

    North Carolina has looked better in recent weeks after suffering three blowout defeats in their first three games against power-conference foes, but the Tar Heels came up just short in losses at Cal and at home against a ranked Virginia team.

    UNC trailed 10-6 at halftime, despite outgaining Syracuse 208-71 in the first two quarters, but June scored on a 73-yard screen pass on the Tar Heels’ first play of the second half to put them ahead. It was the first time all season that UNC has led in the second half against a power conference opponent.

    June scored on a five-yard run late in the third quarter, capping a 12-play, 80-yard drive where UNC established itself on the ground against Syracuse’s poor run defense. June finished with 101 yards rushing and 81 yards receiving.

    “We made a lot of plays with the ball in our hands,” Belichick said during his on-field postgame interview. “We made some yards after the catch and after we had the first hit.”

    The Tar Heels added another touchdown on a 21-yard pass from quarterback Gio Lopez to receiver Jordan Shipp early in the fourth quarter. The score came after defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude chased down Syracuse quarterback Joe Filardi and forced a fumble that was recovered by UNC’s Smith Vilbert.

    The defense allowed just three points and had three sacks.

    “Good team win,” Belichick said. “Good to be on track.”

    UNC dominated statistically in the first half, but still trailed at halftime thanks to red-zone issues and a costly fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

    The Tar Heels, plagued by trouble near the opposing end zone all season, settled for a field goal after moving the ball to the Syracuse 1 in the first quarter. UNC committed a false start penalty on fourth-and-goal, forcing the Tar Heels to settle for a 24-yard field goal from Rece Verhoff. Receiver Kobe Paysour had a 50-yard catch-and-run to get UNC to the Syracuse 3.

    On UNC’s next drive, wide receiver Shamar Easter fumbled on a hit by Devin Grant. Syracuse’s Anwar Sparrow picked up the ball and returned it 51 yards for a touchdown to give the Orange a 7-3 lead.

    Syracuse added a field goal early in the second quarter, and Verhoff answered with a 43-yard field goal in the final minute of the half.

    Syracuse (3-6, 1-5) has lost five consecutive games, coinciding with a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Steve Angeli. Filardi, a lacrosse standout, struggled badly in his first start. He completed 1-of-11 passes in the first half and finished 4-of-18 for 39 yards.

    Lopez passed for a season-high 216 yards and had two touchdowns. He completed 15-of-19 passes and rushed for 33 yards.

    “I thought Gio picked up some key third downs for us with his running, even though it wasn’t for big numbers,” Belichick said on ESPN. “It was for five [yards] when we needed four.”

    The Tar Heels don’t leave North Carolina for the final four games of the regular season. UNC hosts Stanford before finishing at Wake Forest, vs. Duke and at NC State. The Tar Heels need three victories to achieve bowl eligibility in Belichick’s first season.

    Scoring summary

    First quarter

    UNC – Rece Verhoff 24 kick, 7:59. Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 3:20. Key play: Quarterback Gio Lopez connected with receiver Kobe Paysour on a 50-yard catch and run, moving the ball to the Syracuse 3. But UNC couldn’t convert and had a false start on fourth-and-goal from the 1. UNC 3, Syracuse 0.

    SU – Anwar Sparrow 51 fumble return, 4:38. No drive. Key play: Sparrow picked up a fumble by North Carolina receiver Shamar Easter after a two-yard catch across the middle and returned it for a touchdown. Devin Grant forced the fumble. Syracuse 7, UNC 3.

    Second quarter

    SU – Tripp Woody 31 field goal, 12:17. Drive: 13 plays, 50 yards, 5:41. Key play: North Carolina committed a face mask penalty on a sack on third-and-10 at the UNC 17 to give the Orange another chance. Syracuse 10, North Carolina 3.

    UNC – Verhoff 43 field goal, 0:36. Drive: 8 plays, 67 yards, 4:05. Key play: Running back Demon June rushed for 44 yards up the middle to move the Tar Heels into Syracuse territory. Syracuse 10, North Carolina 6.

    Third quarter

    UNC – June 72 pass from Gio Lopez (Verhoff kick), 13:26. Drive: 1 play, 72 yards, 0:13. Key play: June took a screen pass from Lopez, and Syracuse couldn’t tackle him. North Carolina 13, Syracuse 10.

    UNC – June 5 run (Verhoff kick), 0:08. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 7:10. Key play: Lopez completed a 14-yard pass to Paysour on third-and-15, and June picked up a first down on fourth-and-1. North Carolina 20, Syracuse 10.

    Fourth quarter

    UNC – Jordan Shipp 21 pass from Lopez (Verhoff kick), 10:35. Drive: 4 plays, 34 yards, 2:18. Key play: Defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude chased down Syracuse QB Joe Filardi and forced a fumble that was recovered by UNC’s Smith Vilbert at the Syracuse 34. North Carolina 27, Syracuse 10.

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  • North Carolina loses three more players, including early season offensive line starter

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    Three more players have left the North Carolina football team amid a tumultuous start to head coach Bill Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels.

    Offensive lineman William Boone, pass rusher Pryce Yates and tight end Yasir Smith are no longer with the team, a team spokesman confirmed to WRAL on Tuesday. Inside Carolina first reported the departures.

    None of the players are listed on the team’s online roster. UNC (2-4 overall, 0-2 in the ACC) hosts No. 16 Virginia on Saturday.

    Boone, a transfer from Prairie View A&M, started the first three games of the season. His agent posted on social media that Boone “will be pursuing a medical redshirt in hopes of having 2 years of eligibility remaining. He should be 100% for spring practice.”

     Yates, a transfer from UConn, played in just one game for the Tar Heels after dealing with an injury in the early part of the season. Smith, a freshman tight end, didn’t appear in a game for the Tar Heels.

    Previously, senior running back Caleb Hood announced his retirement after UNC’s fifth game of the season. Hood scored the first touchdown of the Belichick era in the season opener against TCU.

    Wide receivers Paul Billups and Aziah Johnson and offensive tackle Treyvon Green also left the program earlier this season.

    The most recent departures come two weeks after a WRAL report that players brought in by Belichick were receiving preferential treatment over those who were with the program before Belichick’s arrival. One assistant coach was suspended for NCAA violations tied to the report, though cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins is back with the team.

    Several sources who spoke to WRAL News, including high school football coaches, former UNC players and an NIL agent, said Belichick’s demeanor when it comes to recruiting and dealing with former players is starting to sour people from the program.

    While the program has faced scrutiny and a call for an independent review for student leadership, Belichick refuted a report that he was looking for an early exit from the program and said he felt the reports of a divide in the locker room were unfounded.

    “I don’t know what kind of perspective some of those people have that are saying that, but I think anybody that’s around it on a daily basis would see that,” Belichick said in an Oct. 13 press conference. 

    “I’m sure the players all see the improvement they’re making.”

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  • Belichick: Time spent in media spotlight doesn’t compromise time he’s able to spend coaching UNC

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    A book tour, a now-paused docuseries, a reported podcast. Bill Belichick’s off-field media appearances since his hiring as North Carolina’s head coach in December have brought headlines at every turn.

    It was during an interview to promote his book when girlfriend Jordon Hudson interrupted a question about how the pair met and became the focal point of coverage. The planned docuseries on Hulu is no longer in development with the streaming giant and all production has been paused. “Coach with Bill Belichick,” a video podcast series that ran during the 2024 season, was set to continue during the 2025 season in Chapel Hill before being scrapped, according to a report from Pablo Torre.

    But Belichick said Tuesday that his media obligations and ancillary appearances take far less time than they did during his NFL coaching career in New England where Belichick won six Super Bowl titles. He dismissed the notion that the media projects were in any way detrimental to the Tar Heels’ program.

    “The things I did in New England in terms of weekly appearances – media, TV shows, radio shows and other things – were honestly a lot more than what they are here,” Belichick said Tuesday. “So I’ve been able to dedicate a lot more time to watching film, to coaching the players, to being with the players, to being in meetings and actually coaching on the field because I’m better informed, better prepared, which I’ve really enjoyed that part of it.”

    Belichick reiterated Tuesday that the docuseries has been paused, “not terminated.” The cameras and crew have been missing from UNC press conferences and games since at least Oct. 4 against Clemson. A university spokesperson said in a statement Monday night that the university and production company EverWonder Studios “remain in contact with the possibility of continuing in the future.” 

    Belichick said Tuesday that he is familiar with a Saudi supporter of his, who invited and paid for general manager Michael Lombard to visit the kingdom on an exploratory fundraising trip before the season. Belichick said he has a relationship with the individual, who has not been identified. The university said Lombardi didn’t meet with the officials from the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has been heavily invested in sports in recent years.

    Contact or follow Brian Murphy:

    Email: bmurphy@wral.com

    YouTube: @murphsturph

    X: @murphsturph

    Instagram: @murphsturph

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